ryanpatricksmom
No more Pixie Poop!
- Joined
- May 18, 2001
- Messages
- 1,091
Today, alas, is our final day at WDW. As previously mentioned, I have arranged a 3pm check-out since DH is sick w/ the flu. DS and I are planning on heading over to AK for the morning, and hang out by the pool in the afternoon. We have tea scheduled for 4:30. Do you think DH goes with the plan? Yeah, right.
We ALL, yes ALL of us, check out at around 8:30 and head over to AK. We stow our bags so we can pick them up at tea time.
Upon entering AK we head over to Dinoland to ride PW and Dinosaur (2x), on the way we pick up fastpasses to ITTBAB. By the time we are finished at Dinoland, it's time to use our fastpasses. DS and I ride KRR (DH wisely sits out) and get soaked as usual. We grab a fastpass for the safari, and take a break for lunch (Pizzafari). After lunch and a little shopping, it's time for our safari. This proves to be the highlight of our trip. We have tried the safari at various times of the day, and have seen very little. Just after we board our jeep, it starts to rain. The animals seem to be enjoying this a great deal. We are closer to the lions than we've ever been, both a rhino and an ostrich walk along side the jeep, and the elephants are all playing in the pool. All of the animals are quite evident throughout the trip! We saw more wildlife on that trip than all of the others combined! As we pull into the station the rain stops...you can't ask for better than that.
We decide to head over to EPCOT for a few hours so that DH can get off of his feet. Test Track has no fastpasses left, so I take DS on BodyWars. We then visited Universe of Energy- 45 minutes of sitting, just what the doctor ordered. It's about 2:30, and the clouds are getting darker. We choose to return to GF, and hopefully we will get into tea early.
At about 3:30 we are able to get seated for tea. We are able to take our time, as we do not have to leave until about 5:30 or so for the airport. We try to eat enough to avoid the need for airport food later.
One last stop at the giftshop and it's off we go! We are both sad and a little relieved to be on our way. We have had alot of fun this trip, but it has been a little trying since DH has been so sick. We were also surprised by the crowds, especially given the short (compared to what we are used to in the summer) hours.
A few thoughts upon our return....
I love WDW. I love the ambience. I do think, however, some of the cut-backs are evident. WDW is still one of the best vacation spots IMO, but it's more important than ever to visit at off times, or when you can take the parks in smaller doses. A long weekend is just too taxing.
I'm glad that we tried the Grand Floridian, but we won't stay there again. Frankly for the money, I don't think that it lives up to expectations. I'm sure that there are some beautiful suites and what not, but a standard room at $379 per night does not measure up. I think that the Fort Wilderness cabins are a much better vacation value. I will continue to recommend them highly!
We have another trip scheduled to Orlando for Columbus Day Weekend. We will be staying at USF HRH this time. The trip will cost us about half of what our Disney mini-vacation cost, and we will have FOTL access throughout our stay. It's hard to beat that when time is at a premium.
WDW is always a work-in-progress, and I look forward to our next visit. Because DS is now ten, there are fewer attractions that hold his attention than ever before. Currently, with crowd levels such as they are, it is difficult to keep older children entertained, as most of the attractions that they are interested in require the use of fastpass. Hopefully, as attendance continues to increase, Disney will return to it's previous operating schedule. Late nights at MK (especially an e-night) and MGM each night of our trip would have made all the difference in the world.
We ALL, yes ALL of us, check out at around 8:30 and head over to AK. We stow our bags so we can pick them up at tea time.
Upon entering AK we head over to Dinoland to ride PW and Dinosaur (2x), on the way we pick up fastpasses to ITTBAB. By the time we are finished at Dinoland, it's time to use our fastpasses. DS and I ride KRR (DH wisely sits out) and get soaked as usual. We grab a fastpass for the safari, and take a break for lunch (Pizzafari). After lunch and a little shopping, it's time for our safari. This proves to be the highlight of our trip. We have tried the safari at various times of the day, and have seen very little. Just after we board our jeep, it starts to rain. The animals seem to be enjoying this a great deal. We are closer to the lions than we've ever been, both a rhino and an ostrich walk along side the jeep, and the elephants are all playing in the pool. All of the animals are quite evident throughout the trip! We saw more wildlife on that trip than all of the others combined! As we pull into the station the rain stops...you can't ask for better than that.
We decide to head over to EPCOT for a few hours so that DH can get off of his feet. Test Track has no fastpasses left, so I take DS on BodyWars. We then visited Universe of Energy- 45 minutes of sitting, just what the doctor ordered. It's about 2:30, and the clouds are getting darker. We choose to return to GF, and hopefully we will get into tea early.
At about 3:30 we are able to get seated for tea. We are able to take our time, as we do not have to leave until about 5:30 or so for the airport. We try to eat enough to avoid the need for airport food later.
One last stop at the giftshop and it's off we go! We are both sad and a little relieved to be on our way. We have had alot of fun this trip, but it has been a little trying since DH has been so sick. We were also surprised by the crowds, especially given the short (compared to what we are used to in the summer) hours.
A few thoughts upon our return....
I love WDW. I love the ambience. I do think, however, some of the cut-backs are evident. WDW is still one of the best vacation spots IMO, but it's more important than ever to visit at off times, or when you can take the parks in smaller doses. A long weekend is just too taxing.
I'm glad that we tried the Grand Floridian, but we won't stay there again. Frankly for the money, I don't think that it lives up to expectations. I'm sure that there are some beautiful suites and what not, but a standard room at $379 per night does not measure up. I think that the Fort Wilderness cabins are a much better vacation value. I will continue to recommend them highly!
We have another trip scheduled to Orlando for Columbus Day Weekend. We will be staying at USF HRH this time. The trip will cost us about half of what our Disney mini-vacation cost, and we will have FOTL access throughout our stay. It's hard to beat that when time is at a premium.
WDW is always a work-in-progress, and I look forward to our next visit. Because DS is now ten, there are fewer attractions that hold his attention than ever before. Currently, with crowd levels such as they are, it is difficult to keep older children entertained, as most of the attractions that they are interested in require the use of fastpass. Hopefully, as attendance continues to increase, Disney will return to it's previous operating schedule. Late nights at MK (especially an e-night) and MGM each night of our trip would have made all the difference in the world.
